Morris tribune., 1887-12-21

wool growing and he dcpenQeeN on 1orelgn
countries for the blanket under which we
sleep and the coat that covers Our backs 10
not a wise policy for the national govern
ment TO enforec.p M - -
! ssDo yea think il the presidentis recommen-
dalton were adopted it would increase our
export trader
ssPossibly in some few articles q peculiar
construction it might, but it would increase
our import trade ten fold as much In tho
great staple fabrics, in wooden and cotton
goods, In iron, in steel, in all the thousand
and one shapes in which they are NrvuEet
How are we to export staple fabrics TO the
markets. of Europe pn1essF rye make them
'cheaper thin they doin Earo2e. and how are
we to manufacture them cheaper than they
do in Europe unless we set cheaper labor
than they have in Europep - = * = 81
THE LABOR eussT1oN-Irs VITAL IMrok-
Is kkas TANcE. Es88FxE EN
4 Then You thiRk that the question OF labor
underlies the whole subiectfs ''0f course IL
does replied Mr.. Blains. "It is, in fact,
the entire question. Whenever we can force
carpenters, masons, ironworkcrs and mcchan-
les in every department to work as cheaply
and live as poorly in the United States,
as similar workmen in Europe, we
can. of course, manufacture just as cheap1y
as they do in England and France. But ]
am totally opposed to policy that would en-
tail such results. To attempt it is sequiva-
lent to social and financial revolution,
one that would bring untold distress
{ sYes,N but might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles from
Europe instead of buying them at higher
prices at homeg" T
,rsThe moment, y answered Mr.. Blaine, 'you
begin to import freely from Europe you
drive our own worknen from mechanical
and manufacturing pursuits. In the same
proportion they become tillers of tho soil, in
creasing steadily the agricultural product
and decreasing steadily the large home de-
mand which is constantly enlarging as home
manufacturers enlarge. That, of course,
works great injury TO the farmer, quitting
the market with his products and tending
constantly to lower prices
WHAT WOULD BECOME OF THE FARMERsa
Eyes, but the foreign demand for farm
products would be increased in like ratio,
would it notEs G
"Even suppose it were," said Mr. Blaine,
show do you know the source from which it
viii be suppheds The tendency in Russia
today, and in the Asiatic possessions of Eng
land is toward large increase of the grain
supply, the grain being raised by the cheap
est possible labor Manufacturing coun-
tries will buy their breadstuffs where they
can get them cheapest, and the enlarg-
ing of the home market for the American
farmer being checked he would search
in vain for one OF the. same value.
His foreign sales are already checked by the
great composition abroad. There never was
time when the increase of large home
market was so valuable to him. The best
proof is that the farmers are prosperous in
proportion to the nearness of manufacturing
centers, and a protective tariff tends to
spread manufactures In Ohio and Indiana,
for example, though not classed as Glanufac-
turing states, the annual value of fabrics is
larger than the annual value of agricultural
products
THE TARIFF or 1916 AND ITS RESULTS.
but those holding the presidents views,n
remarked the reporter ssare always quoting
the great prosperity Of the country under the
tarif of 1916" #A -
tpThat tariff did not involve the one de-
structive point recommended by the presi
dent, namely, the retaining Of direct internal
taxes IN order to abolish indirect taxes levied
ON foreign fabrics. But. the country had
peculiar advantages under it by the Crimean
war involving England, France and Russia
and largely impairing their trade. All these
incidents, or accidents, if you choose, were
immensely stimulating to tradein the United
States, regardless Of tho nature of our tariff.
But mark the end OF this European expert
encs with the tariff Of 1916, which for time
gave an iHusery and deceptive show OF pros
perity Its enactment was Immediately fol-
lowed by the Mexican VAR then in 1S4S by
theg great conclusions Of Eukope, then in 1910
and succeeding years by the enormous gold
yield in California. The powers made peace
In 1856, and &C the same time the outppSef
gold IN California fell on. Immediately
the financial panic of 1857 came upon
the county with disastrous force. Though
wshad IN these years nliped vast amount
s of gold in California every bank in New
n1eslt. Four hundred hiliions in gold had
to pay for foreign goods that should have
years of depression and distress as an atone
ment for our folly.
HISTORY kEFERTfkesIrszLFse,
SIT is remarkable that President Polk re-
commended the:tarif of 1916 On precisely the
same ground that President Cleveland re-
commends similar enactnaent new namely
the surplus in the Treasury was nleHaciug DE
prosperity of the country SHistoryis repeat.
ing itself By the way Mr.. Blaine added,
after a moments reflection, st Is worth
notice that Mr. Polk insisted ON empty
ing the treasury by free trade tariff,
then Immediately rushed the country
into debt by borrowing $50, 600
for the Mexican war. / trust moth
ing may occur to repeat so disastrous a
sequel to the policy recommended by Presi-
dent Cleveland But the uniform fate has
been for fifty years past that the Democratic
party when it goes out of power always
leaves an empty treasury, and when it re-
turns to power always finds tub treasury"
HOW MR.. BLAINE WOULD REDUCE TIE
ssThen do you mean to imply that there
should be no reduction OF the national reye-
nue?' 20 u 8
@No, what j have said implies the reverse.
would reduce it by O prompt repeal Of the
tobacco tax and would make here and there
some changes in the tariff, not to reduce pro
lection, but wisely Tester it.
"Would you explain your meaning more
fullygv
"I mean, said Mr.. Blaine, that no great
system of revenue like our tariff car operate
with efficiency and equity tunlessthe changes
of trade be closely watched and the law
promptly adapted to those changes But /
would make no change that should impair
the protective character ,of the whole body
of the tariff laws. Four years ago, in the
act Of 1883, we made changes Of Tia eharac-
ter have tried to indicate. II such changes
were made, and the terrifying of our sea-
coast thus undertaken at very moderate
annual outlay, no surplus would be found
after that already accumulated .had been. dis
posed Of. The outlay of money on fortifica-
lions, while doing great sefYice % thecoup-
try, would give good work TO many men"
but what about the existing sufplusFs
ssThe abstract of the message I have seen,n
replied Mr. Blaine, contains no refersElce TO
that point, j therefors make no scomment
further Chan to iniorse Mr.. Fred Grants
remark that surplus Is always easier to
handle than a deficit
POSSIBLE EFFErT or THE PREsIDExTs
Policy.